THE future of Ballarat Community Health at Smythesdale\u2019s The Well has been questioned at the Golden Plains Shire\u2019s regular May council meeting.<\/p>\n
Local resident Rosemary Angus attended question time to ask councillors whether they were aware that the BCH clinic in the Shire\u2019s north was at risk of closing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat Community Health, to date, has been unable to appoint a doctor to replace Dr Chandra who resigned before Christmas,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis clinic is the only medical facility in the northern end of the Shire and its loss would be catastrophic to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are aware of this issue, what steps are you taking to ensure or encourage Ballarat Community Health to keep this clinic open?\u201d<\/p>\n
Director community services Steven Sagona said the Shire recognises the importance of having general practitioners in the central and northern parts of the municipality, where services are otherwise limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in regular contact with Ballarat Community Health and their most recent advice to us is that they are continuing to work towards continuation of GP services in Smythesdale. That is their objective and what they are hoping to be able to achieve,\u201d Mr Sagona said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil has offered them practical assistance in the past and will continue to do that. The last few months we have facilitated some improvements to their internet connectivity because that was an issue that was holding them back in a sense, and aim to provide any assistance we can, but we don\u2019t have any live requests from them.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore broadly we\u2019ll continue to advocate to Federal and State governments and relevant service providers and primary health services in all parts of the Shire.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
New path for old track<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors have endorsed that Steiglitz\u2019 Hay Track be renamed Tarnook Track.<\/p>\n Acting director infrastructure and development Vicki Shelton said the road was formerly part of the Steiglitz Historic Park, and the owner of current surrounding land has requested the change.<\/p>\n \u201cTarnook Track recognises the Indigenous name of the area, and Wadawurrung and Parks Victoria have both supported the renaming of the track, which is in compliance with the Geographic Names Victoria process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Cr Owen Sharkey said Hay Track was named by parks Victoria in the 1970s, and Tarnook means \u201cshaped like a wooden bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see that Aboriginal connection there. Small things like this go a long way to acknowledging our Indigenous heritage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Action to protect heritage home<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors have moved to apply to the State Minister for Planning for a heritage overlay on 4 Wallace Street, Meredith, following the owner\u2019s request to demolish the dwelling on site.<\/p>\n Ms Shelton said officers have assessed and researched the historic weatherboard home, stable, buggy shed and surrounding property on the Mercer Street corner, and have identified it as having significant heritage value.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should be considered for a heritage overly to be applied… to protect the buildings in that location,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Cr Helena Kirby said she was pleased to see heritage assessments coming to council.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to be aware of what\u2019s happening, whether someone wants something demolished or not, and just to know the significance of that property is on our agenda,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe principal owner of the property… knows the house is of historical significance, and now it\u2019s just a matter of this going onto have [heritage overlay] put in place.<\/p>\n \u201cThe owner and the council have worked hand-in-hand to come to a really good agreement on this proposal. It\u2019s something that we need to preserve for the heritage of our Shire.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Les Rowe said the property is unmissable when driving around the highway\u2019s bend, in or out of Meredith.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is one that has been drawn to my attention for over 50 years. The owner is accepting of the heritage assessment being undertaken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see this property may stay as is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n